Election Day 2013: Democrats regain control of Ulster County Legislature

Wednesday

Nov 6, 2013 at 2:00 AMNov 6, 2013 at 8:38 AM

Democrats have snatched the majority out of the hands of the GOP for control of the Ulster County Legislature in Tuesday elections.

James Nani

UPDATE (12:28 a.m.): Democrats have snatched the majority out of the hands of the GOP for control of the Ulster County Legislature in Tuesday elections.

Even with two races that will need to be decided next week by absentee ballot, Democrats have picked up enough seats to gain control of county legislature.

“We definitely won the majority,” said Dave Donaldson, the minority leader for Democrats in the county legislature. “I feel great about that.”

It had been a toss-up this year for who would control the Ulster County Legislature, with all 23 seats up for re-election. Republicans had a held a razor-thin 12-11 majority.

“I look forward to working in a positive, bipartisan way, as we have the last four years as the Republican majority,” said Republican Majority Leader Ken Ronk, who ran unopposed this year.

But out of the 23 seats up for grabs, only 13 were competitive this year. Legislators serve a two-year term and are paid $10,000 a year.

In one of the most watched races in the county, Terry Bernardo, the Republican incumbent and the legislature's chairwoman, led by just 10 votes against Democrat Lynn Archer. But with 185 absentee ballots sent out, that race will be decided sometime next week when the absentee ballots will be opened.

If she wins, it would be Bernardo's third term representing the Town of Rochester and part of Wawarsing.

And what some had predicted would be a tight race, Democrat Chris Allen took down 18-year incumbent Republican Robert Aiello in District 2, that covers the village and part of the town of Saugerties.

Another hot race this year was between incumbent Republican Legislator Craig Lopez and Democratic challenger Tim Distel. Distel's campaign war chest was more than five times Lopez's war chest by the last reporting date, due in large part to contributions from a wealthy Wawarsing benefactor.

But Distel was down by several dozen votes by last count Tuesday night to Lopez, who is seeking his second term. That race will also be decided next week, since more than 100 absentee ballots had been sent out. The district represents western Wawarsing and northwestern Shawangunk, and could host one of the coveted casinos made legal this year.

In the sixth legislative district, which includes the southwestern end of the City of Kingston, Donaldson, a nine-term incumbent, beat Republican challenger John Quigley.

Aside from the legislature races, Elliot Auerbach of Ellenville sailed into his third as Ulster County comptroller, beating Linda McDonough from Lake Katrine, who entered the race after a last-minute drop out from Town of Ulster Supervisor Jim Quigley.

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UPDATE (11:32 p.m.): With the results still pouring in, it looked like Democrats have snatched the majority out of the hands of the GOP for control of the Ulster County Legislature in Tuesday night elections.

Tentatively, it looks as if Democrats have picked up enough seats to gain control of county legislature.

“I feel great about that. We definitely won the majority,” said Dave Donaldson, the minority leader for Democrats in the county legislature.

It had been a toss-up this year for who would control the Ulster County Legislature, with all 23 seats up for re-election. Republicans had a held a razor-thin 12-11 majority.

But out of the 23 seats up for grabs, only 13 were competitive this year. Legislators serve a two-year term and are paid $10,000 a year.

It was still too tight to call the race for Terry Bernardo, the Republican incumbent and the legislature's chairwoman. She's facing Democrat Lynn Archer.

In District 14, Craig Lopez appears to have eeked out a slim victory and won a second term.

In the sixth legislative district, which includes the southwestern end of the City of Kingston, Donaldson, a nine-term incumbent, beat Republican challenger John Quigley.

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KINGSTON — Voters will decide all 23 county legislative seats Tuesday and settle which political party will run the show in the process.

It has been a toss-up this year for who would control the Ulster County Legislature, with all 23 seats up for re-election and Republicans holding a 12-11 majority.

Yet out of the 23 seats up for grabs, only 13 are competitive this year. Legislators serve a two-year term and are paid $10,000 a year.

In one of the most watched races in the county, Terry Bernardo, a Republican incumbent and the legislature's chairwoman, attempts a third run at the seat, facing Democrat Lynn Archer. The seat represents the Town of Rochester and part of Wawarsing, District 21.

Another hot race this year is the race between incumbent Republican Legislator Craig Lopez and Democratic challenger Tim Distel in District 14. Distel's campaign war chest is more than five times Lopez's account by their last reporting to the state Board of Elections, due in large part to large contributions from a wealthy Wawarsing benefactor.

Distel has seen attacks from Republicans for alleged primary improprieties. Lopez is seeking his second term. The district represents western Wawarsing and northwestern Shawangunk, and is seen as a top contender for one of the coveted few areas that may get a casino.

Out in the southwestern area of the City of Kingston, David Donaldson, nine-term incumbent, is being challenged by John Quigley, a Republican.

Aside from the legislature races, Elliot Auerbach of Ellenville is expected to sail into his third term as Ulster County comptroller, against Linda McDonough from Lake Katrine, who entered the race after a last-minute withdrawal from the race by Town of Ulster Supervisor Jim Quigley.

For up-to-the-second results from every race in the mid-Hudson Valley and Catskills, click here.

Your major races:

- New York State Proposition 1: Authorization of casino gambling- Orange County Executive: Roxanne Donnery (D) vs. Steve Neuhaus (R)- Ulster County Legislature: Various seats up for grabs

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Follow recordonline.com continuously tonight for updates from all of the races, with live numbers, quotes and stories, photos and more.